The Compaq iPaq PM-1 and included accessories. The package includes everything you need to get started, including three blank mini CDRs. The PM-1 didn't include a sampler disc like RipGO! had, but for a suggested retail price of $99, some sacrifices have to be expected.

Compaq isn't a name that you would normally associate with entertainment devices, but with the launch of the iPAQ product line, they are building a lot more than just handheld Windows CE devices. The iPAQ banner now has several music devices, including the new PM-1.

First of all, you have to take into consideration the fact that the PM-1 retails for only $99, which is a lot less than the $399 Imation will charge you for the RipGO! Of course, you do lose some of the features that are offered with the RipGO!, but the PM-1 has a few things to offer which the RipGO! does not.

The most important thing to note about the PM-1 is that it includes an inline LCD remote with a clip. This allows you to control the unit from the remote, as well as from the unit itself. The LCD display consists of two lines of text with a twelve-character maximum for each line. The unit does support scrolling, so the titles can scroll across the top line. With the PM-1's ID3 tag support, it was able to read all of the tags for every MP3 file that we put into the unit. The LCD display itself isn't back-lit, so working with the unit in the dark is tough until you learn where all of the buttons are located. For the most part, all of the buttons are duplicated on one of the two sides of the PM-1, so you can use the buttons on the unit, as well.